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"Image" satellite during construction, courtesy of NASA
NASA engineers found that the power supply on "Image" had failed, thus terminating the experiment

The Image (Imager for Magnetosphere-to-Aural Global Exploration) satellite studying the Earth's magnetic field has stopped operating, NASA said yesterday.  Image is the first satellite to study Earth's entire magnetosphere, which is the region of space that is controlled by the Earth's magnetic field that can sometimes disrupt satellites and even shut down utility stations on Earth.

Although the satellite failed unexpectedly, the overall mission was long deemed a success as the probe was only supposed to monitor the magnetosphere for two years.  The Image website has not updated yet, but expect more details of the termination to show up soon.



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NASA note to self.
By sintaxera on 1/22/2006 3:33:44 PM , Rating: 2
Remember: Companies that made the Mars rovers, yeah those guys, on a winning streak, might want to get their input on more projects.

Oh, and also, the media sucks. This magnetic field project was deemed a success internally but the headline made it sound like a failure. Azzhats.




RE: NASA note to self.
By The Cheeba on 1/22/2006 4:11:05 PM , Rating: 3
Wait for it... Wait for it...

quote:
Although the satellite failed unexpectedly, the overall mission was long deemed a success as the probe was only supposed to monitor the magnetosphere for two years.


RE: NASA note to self.
By Furen on 1/22/2006 7:20:18 PM , Rating: 2
The headline said that the satellite failed, which it did since its power supply died. I agree that it sounds like the whole mission failed unless you read the article but what else could they have written as a headline? Satellite breaks?


RE: NASA note to self.
By ted61 on 1/22/2006 7:49:51 PM , Rating: 2
Maybe they could have said, satellite breaks, extended mission a failure after an initial success.


RE: NASA note to self.
By dhanson865 on 1/22/2006 9:54:28 PM , Rating: 2
How many words fit on a headline? The orginal is:

"Magnetic Research Satellite Fails: Experiment Ends"

how about

"Magnetic Research Satellite Expiriment Ends"

or

"Magnetic Research Satellite Experiment Ends Sucessfully"

or

how about just using the AP headline:

"NASA's Image satellite ends mission" - Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - A NASA satellite studying the Earth's magnetic field has stopped operating after six years, the space agency said Friday.

The Image satellite, launched in 2000, successfully completed its two-year primary mission. It continued to make observations until last month when engineers discovered that its power supply had failed. The satellite remains in orbit around the sun and does not pose a threat to Earth.


Stupid Republicans
By Samus on 1/23/2006 2:06:41 AM , Rating: 2
These damn republican news agencies just hate NASA dont they...

Or maybe they're just negative and bitter and like to make everything sad and depressing and sound worse than it really is.




RE: Stupid Republicans
By bob661 on 1/23/2006 3:47:46 PM , Rating: 2
Most people prefer sad and depressing which is why the media pumps that crap out all day. How many here can honestly say they are generally happy (general happiness is not just elation and joy)?


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